Interview with Beca Lewis on The Shift Part 3

Beca: You said something at the beginning that it’s about applied spirituality – anybody that knows me and has read anything that I’ve written, that is a yes because I think spirituality is incredibly practical and it should be practical. It’s not meant to be something that you pack away and it comes out in times of need. It should be applied to everything. I love that you’re using that word.

I also, do you think – this is a question for you – do you think that one of the reasons why your flight was so successful in so many ways because I know it’s only begun to bloom out into the world what you’ve done because you not only were doing it as an example, but did you opt to do it – weren’t you supporting a school? Wasn’t there another thing behind that, that you always had to always had to answer underneath it to somebody else, not to just to yourself. You couldn’t give up because other people were counting on you?

Robert: Well, there really was three things I was trying to promote. One of them was the Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary School, the fourth grade class. The intention is to raise money for them through book sales and there’s been some donations along the way. They’re now fifth graders because they graduate and will be back in school soon.

The other thing was the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, AOPA, a scholarship fund by the name of Spirit of San Diego, which is coincidentally the name of the plane. My hope there is to give aspiring pilots the opportunity to learn how to fly at a younger age than I did. I started to fly at age 44. So, I’ve been flying for five years now. My hope is that I can help support that organization because it’s an amazing, amazing organization. I respect so many people there.

Then, the other thing was to showcase aviation technology that makes flying less expensive and safer for people because one of the big hurdles is the cost of flying. It’s enormously expensive, and then of course there’s the fear associated with it. So, anything that helps make flying safer is a very positive thing. I don’t want to underplay the point that I also intend to have one hell of a time on this trip.

Beca: It looks like you did.

Robert: I was not totally selfless, but I thought there was an opportunity for everybody to win.

Beca: [inaudible] I love that you had such a wonderful time.

Robert: You know what the funny thing is Beca is that people, I think, somehow in their minds think that when you go away on vacation that maybe some of your lessons are just going to stop. So, you can just have some peace and quiet for a time and sheer bliss. In reality, when you quiet your outside life and the world, the lessons start streaming in much faster and maybe even more intensely. So, it can be a wild ride in a lot of ways, whether you’re having an engine out over the Straits of Morocco at 14,000 feet or you get some news from home that just turns your life upside down, it’s all meant to be.

Beca: Robert, it’s just so awesome to talk to you. I’m going to let people know where to find you in the show notes of this podcast. We’ve been mentioning your book, but if there’s someplace you think you want to tell people where to find you in case they don’t get to the show notes?

Robert: There’s many ways to reach me and the people that help to support me, www.FlyingThruLife.com is a great place. My favorite social media is Facebook – I have a page and a profile there, and there’s of course YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Google Plus. So, we have it all covered, I believe.

Beca: You do.

Robert: Our mutual friend, Susan Gilbert has it all covered.

Beca: She does. I see her hand in it. It’s awesome how she’s pulled it off. I have one last question for you. What is the one piece of advice that you would give anyone else in the midst of changing a life story?

Robert: I would share what I learned in my spiritual psychology class at the University of Santa Monica which is to not be afraid to dream impossibly big and to just go for it. Every no is one step closer to a yes, and this dream took 49 years to unfold because it was my childhood passion to fly, but I did not give up on it and sometimes it took the gentle nudging or spirit or close friends like Susan or Mary [inaudible] to get me to open my heart even wider. So, I would just say dream impossibly big and then let life unfold after that.

Beca: Robert, yes, I can see how Mary was also very helpful, and I think that you’ve just begun. I know it seems like you’ve hit a milestone and it’s one that we’re all delighted to know. I for one am looking forward to seeing where all this takes you and how you share it with the rest of us. So, I so appreciate you being with us today.

Robert: Well, I’m looking forward to seeing where spirit takes me, and everyone else who is participating as well, and what a pleasure to talk Becka, so fun actually.

Beca: Thank you. We’ll do it again. Bye.

One Part Inspiration. One Part Real Life Advice.
That's Flying Thru Life!

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